Families of lost crew members suffering "unimaginable pain" after rescue efforts ended following the discovery of their capsized yacht with the life raft still stowed on board

The overturned hull of the Cheeki Rafiki, discovered by a US Navy warship

The families of the Cheeki Rafiki crew, including skipper Andrew Bridge from Farnham, have thanked those who took part in search efforts as they endure the "unimaginable pain" of the loss of their loved ones.

Hopes of finding the four Britons lost in the mid-Atlantic Ocean were ended when their capsized and badly damaged yacht was found around 1,000 miles east of Massachusetts last Friday (May 23), with its life raft still on board.

Experienced captain Mr Bridge, 22, and crew members Steve Warren, 52, from Bridgwater, Somerset, Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset, and James Male, 23, from Southampton, went missing when the 40ft Cheeki Rafiki began taking on water on the way back from a regatta in Antigua on Thursday May 15.

The families issued a statement through the Foreign Office which said Friday's news had left them "utterly disconsolate".

They said: "Nonetheless, we take some small solace that this conclusive development allowed us to gain an element of closure.

"We know that they will be forever remembered based upon the flood of touching responses received already.

"The UK Foreign Office has been relentless, professional and hugely sympathetic in its support throughout and we thank them unreservedly.

"Naturally we'd like to thank the US Coastguard, along with some UK and Canadian support.

"They said they were searching like it was one of their own family, and we couldn't have asked for more.

"We are well aware that the men and women of the US Coastguard who tirelessly participated in the search, plus those on private yachts and merchant vessels, bore terrible weather conditions and not inconsiderable personal risk to find our loved ones. We are humbled and offer our eternal gratitude."

The families offered special praise for the continued backing of the British media in championing their cause and for the dignified and respectful tone of journalism set. They said they were also indebted to the public for its "overwhelming and unprecedented support".

The initial search for the men was called off after only two days but was resumed last Tuesday (May 20) after a petition signed by 240,000 people called for it to continue.

The families said: "This has helped quell our distress somewhat, but in particular Paul, Steve, James and Andrew would have been enormously touched to have known that they were in the minds of so many people.

"It would have brought them great comfort in their moment of need and could, just could, have made a vital difference in saving their lives had the circumstances only been different."

The hunt for the Cheeki Rafiki crew was called off after an additional 21,000 square miles of ocean was scoured for signs of them.

The yacht was found with its cabin flooded and windows shattered and with no signs of survivors.

Underwater photographs taken by a swimmer from a US Navy warship showed the life raft clearly stowed in place, indicating it had not been deployed in an emergency.

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.